Previous Programmes

MTN Flight The GIBS MTN FLIGHT team will again travel to Ghana, Dubai and Nigeria this year, delivering this dynamic, action-learning based programme to middle managers from South Africa, Swaziland, Rwanda, Zambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Cote ‘d Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Cameroon, Benin, Congo Brazzaville, Iran, Sudan, Yemen, Dubai, Syria and Cyprus. Many of the delegates on this programme overcome uniquely challenging circumstances in country with GIBS /MTN support to deliver cross-functional projects related to current business strategy as part of the programme requirements.

Developing Distell’s future leaders

Distell, in conjunction with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), offered a Middle Management Development Programme (MMDP) to 12 Distell employees in 2011. The delegates participated in a rigorous 10-month programme which gave the delegates first hand exposure to Distell’s full value chain across its Wine, Spirits and Ready-to-drink /Cider segments. This was the second year the programme was offered to high potential candidates earmarked to fulfil middle management positions within the organisation.

This challenging and fully customised programme offers theoretical and practical components in the form of lectures, simulations, group work, guest speaker engagements and site visits which are delivered by GIBS faculty and Distell subject matter experts. The programme learnings are cemented through an Action Learning Project which the syndicate groups present to around 130 invited guests and the evaluation panel (consisting of three GIBS faculty members and three Distell Directors) at the end of the programme.

The delegate’s hard work was rewarded at a graduation function at Oude Libertas in Stellenbosch. All of the delegates completed the programme successfully, and even more significant was the fact that a recommendation by one of the teams realised a saving of R600 000 for Distell’s wine segment in Canada. This team has also been tasked to formulate a business case elaborating on their recommendations. It was truly a joyous occasion and a proud moment for Distell.

Sasol Executive Development Programme

On Monday 6th February 2012 at the Sasol headquarters in Rosebank, the 11th class of Sasol Executive Development Programme delegates celebrated the end of a challenging year. The highlight of the evening for both delegates and guests was undoubtedly the presentation of their Action Learning Projects. These presentations marked the culmination of their research and recommendations into projects of strategic significance to Sasol – a great investment of time and energy on the part of the delegates. The ROI demonstrated by their work was acknowledged by Sasol CEO David Constable, who addressed delegates and remained to mingle with them over cocktails once he and the GIBS Dean, Professor Nick Binedell, had handed out certificates. Apart from Johannesburg, the learning experience too place in Doha, Mumbai and Houston.